According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), an organization dedicated to “the prevention of slips, trips-and-falls through education, research and standards development,” slips and falls account for over one million hospital emergency room visits annually. While slip-and-fall injuries are commonly thought to be an injury suffered primarily by older populations, these types of accidents can happen to anyone at any time. According to NFSI, slips and falls are the leading cause of occupational injury for people aged 15-24 years old and are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims overall.
The plaintiff in a Georgia slip-and-fall lawsuit, 49-year old Craig Walters, sustained injuries in a Douglasville, Georgia Kroger grocery store, after slipping and falling on a piece of smashed fruit on the floor. Mr. Walters fell directly onto his back and suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in both extensive medical treatment and his inability to return to work. According to his attorney, Mr. Walters had to undergo spinal surgery among other medical treatments, which totaled over $135,000 in medical bills.
Originally, it was believed that there was no video surveillance directed at the area where the accident took place. Kroger also claimed that all surveillance footage from the day of the incident had been taped over, due to a policy of recording over surveillance tapes after 17 days of holding them. However, it was later discovered that there was a camera directed on the spot where Mr. Walters fell. Further investigation revealed evidence that the video tape had previously existed but had been intentionally destroyed.
Have you or a loved one been injured because of a slip and fall accident due to the negligence of someone else? If so, you may be entitled to substantial compensation, so please contact one of our expert slip and fall lawyers here at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates. Please call 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com. Your needs are our top priority!
